How big?

On the basis that we all tend to use our hands to augment what we are saying, I have to ask just what it is Barroso is attempting to describe the size of in the following picture:

It can't be the size of his mouth, nor that of Van Rompuy, Ashton, Cameron, Clegg, MilibandE, Merkel or Sarkozy, nor can it be the eurozone debt - his fingers are not far enough apart.

So, just what was Barroso describing?

Just asking.........

Please note any lewd comments will be deleted!

H/T: Picture via Daily Telegraph.

Transfers of Power

Preceding the meeting today between Merkel and Sarkozy - aka Merkozy - it would appear a disagreement has arisen between Iain Duncan Smith and Nick Clegg over the minutiae of the 'Referendum Act' and whether any treaty change would necessitate a referendum, with Cameron stepping in to state that there would only be a referendum "if a new treaty passes powers from UK to Brussels" adding that "as Prime Minister, I do not think the issue will arise".

Much is made of the subject of 'sovereignty' by politicians viz-a-viz our membership of the European Union; and it is therefore worthwhile considering exactly what sovereignty means. Hopefully, we can all agree that sovereignty means the ability of a nation to have supreme, independent authority within it's own territory, thus allowing it the power to make law affecting those within it's territory. Whether it concerns areas of foreign policy, immigration, or even how 'internal' matters are conducted; the minute a nation loses the right to decide any matter for itself it has suffered a loss of power - and if that loss is the result of those matters being decided by an alien 'organisation', then it has suffered a transfer of power. Since this nation has been a member of the European Union it has been subject to over thousands of rulings from that alien 'organisation' which has resulted in a transfer of power.

David Cameron has for some time been pushing the idea that in order to solve the 'euro crisis', the 17 eurozone nations should integrate and thereby accept central control of their fiscal policies. This well-thought-out policy (not) has the inherent danger that in a group of 27 members, 17 constitutes a majority and that such a majority could well impose a 'decision', one not wanted by the remaining 10. Any such 'decision' would then be binding on all 27 members and would, by nature of the concept of 'ever closer union' and 'harmonization', result in a transfer of power.

A transfer of power, under the designation of sovereignty above, is a transfer of power - there can be no degrees of transfers of power, which rather makes a mockery of the Referendum Act and the extremely careful wording with which that Act is written - but hey, we all know the reasons for that! The MSM - aka 'pretend' journalists - would have us believe that Cameron is therefore twixt the proverbial rock and a hard place, in that he either upsets the EU by granting a referendum on EU membership or he alienates his own backbenchers who, we are assured by said MSM, are largely 'eurosceptic'. Cameron is well aware that the supposed 'eurosceptics' are 'career politicians' and that they would follow their Party Whip in supporting whatever decision he makes in order to preserve their own 'careers', rather negates any worries from the rock/hard place. Of course, were he to grant a referendum it would shatter the Coalition 'accord' - which doesn't really exist, but I digress - and would result in his 'power-grab' in May 2010 having been for nought (and yes,make no mistake, Cameron is a 'career politician' too!).

Needless to say it won't be until the forthcoming 'Heads of States' meeting at the end of this week is concluded that we will know exactly 'how much further down the river we have been sold'. The fact that it should be the people who decide whether any new treaty/arrangement is acceptable, rather than a political elite, matters not.

Of course, were to to have a system of democracy that combined 'Referism' and 'Direct Democracy' - but yet again I digress....................

Just saying...................

Racism - but what 'defines' racism?

"What 'multiculturalism' boils down to is that you can praise any culture in the world except Western culture - and you cannot blame any culture in the world except Western culture."
Thomas Sowell

British Freedom links to a video of a young woman, Emma West, having a 'rant'  about multiculturalism, with further comment from Sean Gabb on the Libertarian Alliance Blog. Up Pompeii posts a video entitled "My tram experience in France". The Anger of a Quiet Man posts on what might be termed an injustice of the legal system - or to be fair, a possible future injustice.

Not too sure if anyone in the blogosphere has come up with this query previously. We, as a country, are supposed to have adopted the principle of being a non-racist, diverse people which loves all mankind and therefore with our minds cleansed of all xenophobic thoughts (well that is what the Government think we should be anyway). If we are discriminating between the entry of EU nationals to the UK, about which problem we can do nothing, but putting barriers in the way of those wishing to come here from countries outside the EU; are we not then discriminating on race?

From a post of mine on 28th December 2010:

"Not for the first time, I found myself thinking that it is mainstream Britain which needs to integrate more with the British Asian way of life, not the other way around.”
David Cameron, “What I learnt from my stay with a Muslim family” The Observer, Sunday 13 May 2007."

That there is a definite decision by the political elite to impose equality and diversity within this country - one that does appear to 'favour' the immigrant is, without doubt, a fact and in this regard I would refer you to what I wrote on the subject of 'Communitarianism' during October this year.

To return to the subject of Emma West, a number of observations/criticisms can be made, at the forefront of which is her use of such language in the presence of her child and query what example that sets. Against that criticism are the words of Sean Gabb, when he writes:

"Her delivery gives her words an articulacy which is not apparent from a transcript. As you listen to her try not to be distracted by the copious swearing because the woman is a white working class Londoner, or at least part of what Jerome K Jerome called “greater Cockneydom”, and the effing and blinding goes with the territory. She is also speaking in a very stressful situation and allowance has to be made for that. She does not come across as thick. The fact that she has worked as a dental receptionist suggests that she is at least reasonably bright. She is also respectably dressed and there is nothing in her appearance to mark her out as being mentally ill or on the margins of society. Her son (aged between two and three I would judge) is smartly dressed and generally looks well cared for. (Contrary to some press reports, the child looks unfazed throughout )."

Reverting to the post by Up Pompeii, it is appreciated that this occurred in France, yet it could so easily have occurred in this country - and for all we know, probably has. If it has then the punishment meted out to Emma West would no doubt be sorely lacking in the case of this video. Similar cases of different 'justice' are only too prevalent; remember the case of the Muslims who burnt a giant poppy during Remembrance Sunday last year? Also do you recall the fire chief who banned his brigade's annual religious service to mark Remembrance Day in case it offended non-Christians?

It is not possible to throw different religions and races together and expect peace will prevail because the more 'equality' that is imposed, the more one 'group' will seek dominance. This fact is compounded by the purveyors of political correctness - who are the 'drivers' of this equality and diversity 'mantra' - and who, in the final analysis, will not even allow others their judgements. They celebrate 'difference' but they will not allow people to be truly different, to think differently and to say what they think. As a result the indigenous population of this country - and those who have fully assimilated the 'British way of life' - are being changed, or socially engineered.

On the question of 'multiculturalism', an interesting quotation from Angela Merkel; one that is true of religion as it is of race - and is an indictment of the aims of the European Union's wish for ever closer union:

"This multicultural approach, saying that we simply live side by side and live happily with each other has failed. Utterly failed."

But I digress.........................

Hitler lives - albeit via a sex-change........

"Obviously, there must be some connection between the subordination of actual individuals and the grotesque exaltation of symbolic ones like Kim Il Sung."
Christopher Hitchens

From Richard North, EU Referendum:

"However, very much in the character of a mountain meeting an immovable object, there was a whisper, mid-month that Merkel was looking to overhaul the German constitution, with a view to emasculating the powers of the constitutional court. This story is now gathering momentum, if not substance, with a further report in Speigel, suggesting that the court is at risk of losing its jurisdiction over European issues."

That the leaders of Germany and the United Kingdom both appear to have a common aim, namely to indulge in a gross exaltation of symbolism, cannot now be beyond doubt. Perhaps they both need reminding of yet another quotation, one apparently misattributed:

"Those whom the Gods wish to destroy, they first make mad."

See what happens, dear reader, when you have unfettered 'representative democracy'? You end up with an 'elected dictatorship'!

HS2 laid bare - Its an EU 'core' network!

The United Kingdom is being integrated within the European Union state in ways that are not publicized - and when they are, the EU element is hidden by our politicians. Two documents have come to light, ones that I do not recall being mentioned by our politicians, nor by the media - although I recognise that for the latter to notice anything that is not spoon-fed to them by their political 'contacts' is a step too far in logical thinking.

The first document I bring to your attention is a proposal by the EU Commission for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network (COM (2011) 650/2). The second document is another proposal by the EU Commission for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Connecting Europe Facility (COM (2011) 665/3). I don't know about you, but I do not recall any mention of these two documents by our politicians or the media.

Within the programme being run by TEN-T (Trans European Network - Transport) it has been the aim of the European Union to create transport 'corridors' to speed the transportation of people and goods from one extreme of their 'empire' to the other. From COM 650/2 we learn that in the light of the challenges for the TEN-T policy, also identified by the White Paper 'Roadmap to a Single European Transport  Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system  ("the White Paper"), these Guidelines will define a long-term strategy for the TEN-T policy up to 2030/2050. We also learn that the proposal aims to establish and develop a complete TEN-T, consisting of infrastructure for railways, inland waterways, roads, maritime and air transport, thereby ensuring the smooth functioning of the internal market and strengthening economic and social cohesion. (Do note the last four words!) It has also been decide by the Commission that the TEN-T could be best developed through a dual-layer approach, consisting of a comprehensive network and a core network.

For those that wish to wade through the usual EU verbiage, please do, but the interesting 'facts' come on page 43 of the Connecting Europe Facility paper, where in noting 'core networks' we see listed none other than High Speed 2 in Core Network #8: Belfast – Dublin – Holyhead – Birmingham
Glasgow/Edinburgh – Birmingham  Birmingham – London – Lille – Brussel/Bruxelles
Dublin/Cork/Southampton – Le Havre – Paris London – Dover – Calais – Paris. Note also on page 39 Felixstowe/Birmingham/Liverpool also feature as a 'core' network. In fact what is also laid bare is that all the debate about connecting Heathrow to the London/Birmingham HS2 line, connecting Heathrow and Gatwick with a rail link is just a smokescreen as all transport plans/decisions are now being taken in Brussels - all our puppets in Westminster have to do is implement that which they are told.

When considering Cameron's posturing today, during the press conference following his meeting with Frau Merkel, coupled with his wish to 'reform' the EU, he should at least admit that if as a Head of State he can't even decide what rail line gets built where, he might just as well haul up the flag of surrender now. He and the rest of the seat warmers that inhabit Westminster are indeed Judas Goats, leading this nation into a subservience of rule from abroad and one can but paraphrase the words of Cromwell when saying to them: Go and go now!

Please, please, can we just get out now, massacre our political claque (at all levels); and start again with a blank sheet of paper. Please?

A 'not that seen much' reason for the 'Greek situation'

Sorry, but your homework is complete 'Pap' and therefore unacceptable! Kindly take it away and do it again!

A Greek tragedy?

The developments over the last 24/48 hours in relation to Greece are, without doubt a tragedy. What appears to have been missed by the media is that these events have been a tragedy for what passes as democracy.

Consider first, the background: From Bruno Waterfield, on twitter, we learn:

"#eurozone, from a very good source, double checked: the depth of EU anger at Papendreou's announcement was because he had threatened a referendum at eurozone summit on 23 Oct to try and win concessions. Merkel had demanded that Greece surrendered all fiscal sovereignty to an EU-IMF team led by a German official who "would supervise every moment of the Greek fiscal and budgetary process". The Greek PM said that such a transfer of power would require popular consent via a referendum. The German Chancellor backed down."

In what appeared to be a rambling speech to the Greek parliament today, a live-blog of which can be found here, Papandreou basically admitted that the referendum 'ploy' was only a means to force agreement from Greek opposition parties on acceptance of the EU 'package'. (Now that the opposition appears to support the EU austerity package there is obviously no need to get permission from the people.)

That Papandreou was bullied by Sarkozy and Merkel and put in his place, in no uncertain terms, is evident by the report from Reuters:

"Flanked by his finance minister and sitting across a white-covered table from French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, he was told bluntly he would get no more aid until Athens committed to play by the rules."

It is also obvious that Greek politicians were 'got at' as we learn from Deutche Well:

"Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos appeared to have changed his mind on the referendum after talks with French and German leaders Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel in the French city of Cannes. Venizelos said in a written statement that "Greece's place in the euro is a historic achievement" and that "this established right of the Greek people cannot be put under scrutiny in a referendum." Development Minister Michalis Chrisohoidis appeared to echo those calls, saying, "There can be no… return to the drachma and the past."

It will be seen from those reports that at one point Papandreou was told that Greece couldn't leave the euro and remain a member of the EU. Intriguingly the European Central Bank has published a paper on just that question and it can be found here. That the EU and their elite do not like referenda is illustrated where at one point in the ECB paper it is admitted that:

"The advisability of a referendum is highly questionable, considering the grave political implications of such a step for the stability of the Union."

As an aside, it would appear that the British and Greek people are not the only ones who would like a referendum on matters EU, so would the German people - according to this report in Bild (translation via Google here). On the subject of matters EU and referendums, Ana the Imp has a well-crafted post, one which is worth a read.

Of course, standing on the sidelines of all this is David Cameron, who is attending the G20 meeting today and has a wee problem, one illustrated in this post from the New Statesman. (Dirgressing once again, the picture is not very flattering to Cameron, who looks as though he has been "toupé'd". Or, as a public employee and a politician who would fit into any of the current political parties whilst retaining all his perks, perhaps it should be "TUPE'd").

The whole situation is probably best summarised by Raedwald who predicts 'fury on the streets'. When comparing our situation in this country Raedwald is also totally correct when he states that our politicians are also are a class apart, willing to sacrifice their own nation and peoples on the altar of EuroFederalism and for their own deeply corrupt self-interest. He is also correct in his observation that now the referendum 'genie' has been let out of the bottle, it will be difficult indeed for our politicians to put it back in. I was yesterday slightly critical of Ukip, however a post from Alex Singleton is also worthy reading in that what he writes is correct - as long as Ukip manage how to put the ball into an empty net. Unfortunately, I'm not holding my breath.

Just a few thoughts on today's events..................

People? What the hell do their views matter?

So 'Angular' Merkel (more 'rotundular' methinks, not that I am attempting to 'shape' anyone's views) has won her vote 523 to 85 with 3 abstentions to expand the £380bn bail-out fund, regardless of the fact that just a few days earlier an opinion poll* showed that 75% of those asked rejected the idea.

In the United Kingdom a majority of those asked want an in/out referendum on membership of the European Union, yet the Cameron/Clegg/MilibandE triumvirate refuse to grant same. Rather than deal with matters of importance Cameron would rather discuss one-use plastic bags**, while MilibandE would rather talk about "Ed Nose Day". As for Clegg, well instead of being the "Last of the Summer Wine", he just became the first of the summer whine.

The EU and Heads of State all discuss "sovereignty". Now, I always thought that "sovereignty" meant the government of a state was meant to have an effective and independent system of government pursuant to a community within a defined territory, namely their own; likewise that democracy meant that all people have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives; that this includes equal (and more or less direct) participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law; and that it also encompasses social, economic and cultural conditions.

That is why this country must immediately cease membership of the EU and why our present system of democracy is wrong and why it needs changing. That we do not have an effective and independent system of government whilst a member of the EU is beyond doubt; but also there is another problem with our present system of democracy. All people do not have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives; neither do they have a equal or direct participation in any proposal, development and passage of any legislation into law.

There is another question that arises, which is, namely, if people are meant to have an equal, or direct, say in decisions that affect their lives, if they are to have an equal or direct participation in the formation of law, why does government exist in a democracy? To meet the requirements of those definitions offered two paragraphs previously, then should we not adopt a form of democracy based on that practised by Switzerland?

Just asking............


Afterthought: The EU is full of vociferous idiots - unfortunately, it would seem, the UK is full of silent idiots..........

* H/T: England Expects

** H/T Calling England